Looking at the team, this is the rotation I would go with... I would give Deng and Mozgov minutes in hopes that they by chance show enough to get some team to bite on a trade... I really wouldn't play Brewer, Black, or Nwaba much because they have no impact on the team moving forward (we won't get anything for them in a trade by themselves, and they will not be resigned past this next season). I would try to give minutes to whoever we get with the 28th pick whenever there are opportunities...

Ball
Russell
Ingram
Randle
Zubac

With Clarkson, Deng, Nance, and Mozgov coming off the bench, plus the 28th pick...

We would also have Brewer, Black, and Nwaba, but I would not make their playing time a priority because they will be gone after this next season.

I expect deng and mozgov to get minutes tho, mozgov may even start, heck maybe deng as well

I'd like to see randle at the 5, and ingram at the 4, for a few times, so we can get an idea of what the team would be like IF we do pursue george

And some more ingram at the 1

Because of deng and mozgov, I think whoever we take at 28 will mostly be in the d-league

Yea, I agree... I do think the 28th pick might end up being a rotational player sooner rather than later depending on who we get. For example, if we end up with a guy like Lydon, I could see him getting minutes pretty quickly because of his shooting ability and he is a year older...

Why does everybody assume that Ball (if we actually draft him) gets into the starting rotation right away? Even if he would be ready to be a starter - he should still have to earn his spot.

Magic doesn't seem interested in his rookies sitting on the bench. I think Lonzo would get the nod right away unless something looks horribly wrong._________________"It's just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up."-The Greatest

Looking at the team, this is the rotation I would go with... I would give Deng and Mozgov minutes in hopes that they by chance show enough to get some team to bite on a trade... I really wouldn't play Brewer, Black, or Nwaba much because they have no impact on the team moving forward (we won't get anything for them in a trade by themselves, and they will not be resigned past this next season). I would try to give minutes to whoever we get with the 28th pick whenever there are opportunities...

Ball
Russell
Ingram
Randle
Zubac

With Clarkson, Deng, Nance, and Mozgov coming off the bench, plus the 28th pick...

We would also have Brewer, Black, and Nwaba, but I would not make their playing time a priority because they will be gone after this next season.

Disagree on a few points -

1) Brewer, Nwaba, Black were part of the defensive dynamic that helped the Lakers win 5 in a row to end the season, so I can't envision a scenario where they don't play. The stretch to close the season was the best the Lakers had in 4 years and management said it was nice to see the team get a "taste of winning". Nwaba has to make the roster first, but I think he has a legitimate chance of getting PT as a defensive specialist. There is forward progress on the defensive end thanks to those guys IMO. Black was also given positive feedback by management and chances are he'll have a roster spot over TRob. We know what they bring on defense, but assuming the Ingram-Ball dynamic works, I see those guys getting easier opportunities on offense.

2) Personally, I think if teams wanted Deng, Mozgov, we would have unloaded them by now. Everyone knows they just turned 32, 30. so it's not like they have significant upside, although who knows... maybe Deng will find his legs again. They were certainly on a milk carton last season. I think the reality is that we're likely stuck with those contracts (unless we package one of our young dudes) and have to make the best of it. I see them as good veterans to have on a team at this point._________________"Stats are killing basketball. This is a very subjective game, a lot of things happen that you can't measure with stats. Very different details matter. The way I see basketball, the most important things don't show up in statistics." - Marc Gasol

Our starting unit will consist with more developed young players: two 4th year players, two 3rd year players and one 2nd year player. With 2nd year playing together under same coach/system, it's expected they would develop better chemistry and start to build their own identity/personal skills.

Ball will start from the bench to lead the second unit. He may replace Clarkson later the season. Zubac will score in the post, Ennis shoot in the perimeter and Brewer run fast break.

Why does everybody assume that Ball (if we actually draft him) gets into the starting rotation right away? Even if he would be ready to be a starter - he should still have to earn his spot.

Because the alternative is to start Clarkson (at SG) or Ennis.

Or perhaps sign a free agent SG?

I prefer them taking Ball but I would be surprised if they just hand over the keys to the car game one of the season. Let the young man adapt to the league and playing against grown men. Let him run with the bench. Maybe by the end of the season the guard rotation has him starting.

This assumes no moves of course. I think the possibilities of multiple moves is pretty good. Magic wants to make a bold move to establish his arriving. Give it a few weeks and we will likely be creating all kinds of hypothetical rosters to express our free agency desires. Maybe that SG position is manned by George or Ingram?

ALL indications are that the Lakers will NOT sign any free agents this summer to more than a 1 year contract. So I don't think Waiters or anyone else that would make more than the minimum is a possibility. They are going to save their money so that PG13 remains a possibility next summer. With the 2nd and 28th picks we already have 13 players on the roster if we keep Black and Nwaba, and that do not include Ennis.

ALL indications are that the Lakers will NOT sign any free agents this summer to more than a 1 year contract. So I don't think Waiters or anyone else that would make more than the minimum is a possibility. They are going to save their money so that PG13 remains a possibility next summer. With the 2nd and 28th picks we already have 13 players on the roster if we keep Black and Nwaba, and that do not include Ennis.

Maybe Nwaba can be re-signed or designated to one of the new 2-way deals. He might earn just as much if he's essentially playing on the NBA roster._________________Smash-mouth basketball - Officially Dead (2014-2017)

I have noticed people have already penciled in our win projections and roster projections without even knowing who we might get in FA and via trade, these sort of threads should be made in October when the roster is already in place.

It will be interesting to see who starts at C. Mozgov or Zu? I believe you should only play one in the rotation._________________"He's a Zen master, so he can speak to you, and he doesn't need a microphone; you can hear him in your head, 'Ron, don't shoot, don't shoot.' Whatever, pow, three. I love the Zen, though."

I'm expecting the starting line-up will be this below, unless they sign or trade for someone in free agency who would be a starter.

Ball
Russell
Ingram
Randle
Mozgov

The second-unit is harder to predict as Clarkson and Nance Jr will be in it for sure. But if Black is kept who will he play at the five him or Zubac? I'm guessing Deng plays SF in the second-unit even though he looks more of a PF nowadays but there isn't anymore for him at the four. As much as I like Nwaba, I think he might be in the 11-15 range on the roster. Same goes for Brewer.